Retrofit Magazine | February 3, 2025
MBH Architects, an award-winning architecture and design firm headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, proudly announces the completion of MBC Biolabs at 135 Mississippi Street, an innovative lab and office space designed to enhance the vibrant life science community in San Francisco’s Potrero Hill neighborhood. This milestone marks a significant achievement in the adaptive reuse of a historic industrial maker space, delivering a modern and dynamic environment for MBC Biolabs.
Located at 135 Mississippi Street, the nearly century-old Potrero Hill industrial building spans 28,302 square feet and now serves as a prime location for scientific innovation and collaboration. The project commenced in March 2022 and reached completion in November 2023, showcasing MBH Architects’ commitment to delivering high-quality designs on an accelerated timeline.
Located at 135 Mississippi Street, the nearly century-old Potrero Hill industrial building spans 28,302 square feet and now serves as a prime location for scientific innovation and collaboration. The project commenced in March 2022 and reached completion in November 2023, showcasing MBH Architects’ commitment to delivering high-quality designs on an accelerated timeline.
Continuing its longstanding partnership with MBC Biolabs and Dewey Land Company, MBH Architects has brought to life the latest facility in MBC Biolabs’ full-service biotech incubators. Located adjacent to the UCSF Mission Bay campus, Potrero Hill has cemented its reputation as San Francisco’s next premier life science zone. The 135 Mississippi Street campus offers flexible and cost-effective lab space, complete with operational support and state-of-the-art equipment and instrumentation. Innovators and entrepreneurs can begin their discovery work virtually immediately, with MBC Biolabs handling logistics, maintenance, and upkeep, allowing clients to focus solely on their science and business.
The project’s design was inspired by the aesthetic of MBC Biolabs and the flexibility of Dewey Land’s vision. The goal was to maximize leasable lab and office space while providing a comfortable and interactive environment that reflects the cutting-edge nature of the work conducted within. Key design elements include high-output lighting fixtures by Fluxwerx, 3D wave lights, and wood slat ceilings, creating distinct zones within the expansive ground floor.
MBH Architects faced and overcame several challenges during the project, such as adapting the existing spaces to updated building codes and incorporating additional mechanical systems in spaces with low floor to ceiling heights. Despite these hurdles, the team successfully delivered a space that meets rigorous CalGreen sustainability standards.
The three-story building includes labs located on the first and second floors and features an impressive All-Hands space on the ground floor. This all-hands area, accentuated by bifold doors that open onto a patio, serves as a central hub for meetings and events. The design integrates innovative materials and products, including acoustical clouds by Autex, metal ceiling slats by CertainTeed, and copper countertops by Alkemi.
Amenities within the space cater to the needs of modern professionals, with facilities including a parking lot, indoor bike room, showers, kitchen, break area, restrooms, a mother’s room, and private phone booths. The strategic use of colors, materials, and lighting throughout the building not only enhances functionality but also contributes to an inviting and engaging atmosphere.
MBH Architects served as both the designer and executive architect, working closely with a dedicated team that included consultants Lusardi Construction, Luk and Associates, and ZFA Structural Engineers. Notable manufacturers and artisans who contributed to the project include GlasPro, FitzFelt, Lighnet, and Sonneman.
The successful completion of MBC Biolabs at 135 Mississippi Street denotes MBH Architects’ reputation for delivering exceptional design solutions that meet the evolving needs of the life sciences sector. This project exemplifies how adaptive reuse can breathe new life into historic spaces, fostering innovation and collaboration within a modern framework.
Published: Retrofit Magazine